The Witch Trial:
I can hardly let the final season of Salem pass by without going hunting for some witches now can I? Who:
Created by: Brannon Braga & Adam Simon
Starring: Janet Montgomery, Shane West, Seth Gabel, Tamzin Merchant, Ashley Madekwe, Elise Eberle, Iddo Goldberg What:
Season 3 Why:
A dramatized version of the witch hunts that took place in Salem When:
Set in the 17th century Where:
Salem, Massachusetts
The Case For:
The first thing that grabbed my attention for Salem was the awesome poster for season two with the witch on an upside down cross. I had heard of the show but not really paid it any attention. The poster was the catalyst for getting me to watch it.
For those that don't know; the show follows the story of Mary Sibley the self-proclaimed matriarch of Salem who has used her witchcraft to attain her position. Her love interest John Alden is a witch hunter, unaware of Sibley's true nature.
By the time we get to this final season Mary's and John's child who was taken at birth, has had his body consumed and taken over by the Devil who has plans to release all the fallen angels from Hell and make himself a god on Earth. This is the main storyline for the season and at various points Mary and John, along with help from others, will try and thwart the Devil (known as Little John here) and his nefarious plot.
The creators of the show went into this knowing that the show was not being renewed for a fourth season so had the luxury of being able to write this season with an end in mind. The main benefit of this has meant that the show feels like a solid three act structure with each season forming one act. We had the first season set up where we were introduced to all the characters and got an understanding of how they relate to one another. The second season propelled the action along with a great conflict as the Marburg's appear to be the greatest threat. That proves to be more of a red herring though by the conclusion of that season; bringing us to our final resolution in this closing season.
Knowing this was going to be the end; I think Braga & Simon decided to go out with a bang and really upped the gruesome stakes. The blood and gore was far more in your face this season and the makeup and effects work are all top notch. The first season is tame by comparison and it is a shame they didn't go for this level of shock value from the beginning because they carry it off really well.
The set design is something else that is also very well realised. They definitely get the feeling of the times with all the wooden buildings and the muddy streets. It feels like a Quakers village. Added to these wooden structures in Salem is the Sibley mansion with all the gothic trappings of a haunted house. Mercy's brothel is another set with its own distinctive characteristics that suit the madam well. Sets and costumes is something the show has always done well.
One of the characters who benefits greatly from the special effects is the new addition of the Sentinel; or Big John as he is also known. His introduction is fantastically gruesome and something different to the norm. Samuel Roukin instils plenty of menace in this fiend and uses his size to great advantage as part of his portrayal; he is truly frightening.
Sebastian Von Marburg is another person that I very much enjoyed watching this season. The whole time you are wondering what exactly his end game is as he seems to be playing Mary; Little John and the talking corpse of his mother Countess Marburg all off against one another. His arc had me guessing the whole time, even though you know that there will be a final showdown for him come the finale. A glorious showdown it is too once it arrives.
The intrigue and machinations of the main players is central to the overall story as alliances are formed and broken throughout. As allegiances switch back and forth at a dizzying rate; you wonder who can trust who in the final scheme of things. Some of this is done well, some not so much but I will get to those when I torture the season.
During its three seasons Tituba has been one of the most interesting witches and her double and triple crossing ways go into overdrive. She might be a little underused over the ten episodes but she still packs a punch when she does appear and that is a credit to both the story and Ashley Madekwe's performance.
I did like the romance between Hathorne and Mercy Lewis. It is something that comes from leftfield as you are expecting a completely different outcome to their relationship. From where the story started to where it ends up for Mercy is one of the triumphs of the show. Her story has all the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet to it.
It would be remiss of me to talk about the various relationships between the witches of Salem and their respective beau's without discussing Mary and John, after all it has been a story about their love all along. Theirs is a gothic romance and it is most prevalent that is the angle they are going with in this final season. What I will say, without wanting to spoil anything, is that I was happy with the outcome of their relationship.
The other unlikely couple of Cotton Mather and Anne Hale has shall we say its ups and downs. At first I was a bit unsure as to why Anne was even bothering with keeping Cotton on her leash. It was obvious that he wanted nothing to do with her. By the end you can see that he was part of her plans but I was still left a little confused about her true feelings for him. I felt this was a deliberate ploy on the writer's behalf though. Ultimately it the decisions made by Cotton that propels Anne to follow her chosen path.
That brings us to the final episode and did it end on a high or did it fizzle out like a miscast spell? Well a bit of both, but more of the former. The final twists it takes did take me by surprise. For a show dealing with dark magic, it didn't shirk its responsibilities to keep faith with that premise. The shocks kept coming as retribution was meted out to all and sundry. Everyone has a conclusion to their story one way or another. I loved the final scene as I was not expecting to revisit this arc after what had happened earlier in the episode. The decision to close the show here was inspired. It feels so relevant to the material that we should end up in this place...
The Case Against:
There is an awful lot of plot crammed into ten episodes. Whereas the first two seasons were both thirteen episodes in length; the third was restricted to ten. It can therefore be a bit confusing following all the threads as they play out. Some of these also feel rushed, such as the Sentinel. I would have loved to see a bit more of an introduction to him. When Big John first appears you are taken aback and wonder what the hell he is all about. But then he just becomes part of the main group and isn't explored in as much detail as I would have liked.
Not only is some of the story rushed for time, some of the storylines feel a bit pointless and don't really go anywhere. Alden and Billy for example feels like a complete waste of time. They spend time creating a bit of interest in Billy only to end it after a couple of episodes. This is time that I felt could have been spent better off fleshing out more of the main plot.
While I am a big fan of Mercy Lewis as I have mentioned; in this season the story arc of both Mercy and Isaac could be from a completely different show. They felt like a bit of an afterthought, as if they had these characters and were building them up to something but didn't really know where to take them. Overall I was a bit disappointed with how their narrative unfolded.
Like Alden and Billy; the subplot of Isaac and Dorcas didn't really grab my attention either. That might have had something to do with one of the stupidest names for a character that I have heard in a long time: Dorcas. Every time I heard this name I thought Isaac was insulting her! Their relationship also has an uncomfortable feeling to it, I am sure it is meant to be innocent but there were times where I wondered if it was heading where it shouldn't.
The whole red mercury plot device feels like a bit of a MacGuffin. It has no bearing in the final scheme of things and once more takes up time that could have been spent on more important themes. All this achieved was to really confuse me! Marilyn Manson's Thomas Dinley, who ends up in possession of the red mercury, was someone who you would look at and think there is something wrong with him. Sweeney Todd had to be the inspiration behind his character. I didn't mind his addition to the series, I just found him to be a bit one note.
Considering Salem has been Mary Sibley's story, for much of the third season she gets pushed to one side a bit so we can get all these different threads coming to the inevitable conclusion. It feels a little jarring after spending two seasons concentrating on her hopes of being with Alden. Come the finale the focus has completely shifted from her and it feels like a left turn.
I did have big issues with her son Little John or I should say Oliver Bell who plays the role. He might not be a terrible actor and it is always tricky casting children in parts. My problem was that I didn't feel Bell was a strong enough actor to carry off such a vital role and one that is so prevalent during this season. He didn't have enough presence to make me fearful of him. Compare him to Big John who does scare the pants off you. I know he is a grown man and it is much easier to imagine an adult being able to hurt you. If you want to compare him to another devil child; I guarantee if I had come across Damien from The Omen that kid would frighten the shit out of me! Bell doesn't have that menace and this role required that fear factor to get the full impact with the audience.
I can't help wondering if The Witch had some influence on the direction the writers chose to end the series with. There are certain parallels I could see between the film and this television show. That isn't technically a bad thing as that film is excellent and if it did inspire the writers that's fine but it did feel a bit derivative.
So while this is by no means a perfect show, and it hasn't been from the start, the third season had its highs and lows but managed to do what a lot of shows can't and that is finish in a satisfying manner.
Verdict:
Are there any witches left for me to hang from the gallows? Approach with caution and find out.
The Witch Trial:
Rumours of strange goings on in the neighbourhood of Hawkins have brought us to investigate and see if we can uncover what is taking place. Will we get to the bottom of what has happened to Will Byers and will anyone be burnt at the stake for these crimes? Read on to find out how our trial went. Who:
Director: The Duffer Brothers
Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Matthew Modine, Cara Buono and a whole host of young stars in the making What:
Horror/Drama Why:
Season One When:
Released 2016 Where:
Set in 1983 in Indiana
The Case For:
I have promised this trial on a couple of occasions now and thought it was high time to get round to putting the collaborators on the stand. I am not going to make any excuses for what follows as I am going to gush buckets of praise upon these souls.
For those that don't know what Stranger Things is about here is a rundown. The basic story is set during the early 1980's in the Midwest of America in the fictitious town of Hawkins. Will Byers a local kid has gone missing in strange circumstances. His three best friends Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair are determined to get to the bottom of what has happened. They are aided in this quest by a mysterious girl known only as Eleven. Meanwhile Will's frantic mother Joyce believes that Will is trying to contact her using psychic means. This irritates her eldest son Jonathan who thinks his mum is just having manic episodes in dealing with her loss.
Jim Hopper the chief of police leads the investigation and starts to think that Joyce might not be as crazy as she appears. Eventually Jonathan starts to also come to the same conclusion with the help of Nancy Wheeler, Mike's older sister whose best friend Barb also seems to have disappeared.
In the background there is some mysterious goings on by a secret government agency led by Martin Brenner and this agency has a connection to Eleven. Brenner's G-Men will use any means necessary to get her back to the laboratory.
This may all sound a bit convoluted but the actual plot unfolds in a manner that is quite easy to follow. The main characters are slowly introduced so you get a good handle on who is who and how each of these people relates to one another. As the episodes tick by you learn more about each person and the development of the main cast is handled very well indeed.
I feel it is best if I approach this slightly differently to normal as there are a lot of characters involved in this production. So I am going to work through them group by group or family by family if you like; and examine what were the most interesting moments or traits of each one.
With this approach in mind lets first look at the Byers family who, let's face it, are the main focus of the whole story. Will himself only has a small part to play. Noah Schnapp who has this role is very good at portraying the fear and dread felt by a boy scared out of his wits. In fact it is fair to say that in the vast majority of cases the casting director got everyone spot on for their parts. There is hardly anyone who seems out of place.
Elder brother Jonathan played by Charlie Heaton is the quiet natured outcast often seen in high schools. Most view him as a freak but straight from the off you can tell that Nancy Wheeler has a different opinion of him. The brotherly relationship shared between Jonathan and Will (shown in flashback) is one of closeness and caring; it is easy to see they both have a lot of love for each other.
One of the things that have probably helped to bring these siblings close together is the separation of their parents Joyce and Lonnie. Joyce has been left to bring up her boys pretty much on her own as Lonnie has moved away from town and basically washed his hands of family responsibilities.
You get a sense that one of the defining factors in the breakdown of that relationship has a bit to do with the mental health of Joyce. Winona Ryder imbues Joyce with a manic, unhinged presence. This is a woman on the edge; who seems to be one step away from becoming a nervous wreck. Now Will's disappearance does have a lot to do with this opinion but you can see that this event has just clicked her mental anxieties up another gear.
What is refreshing is that Joyce recognises that she is a little crazy and keeps telling the people around her that she knows she sounds like she is losing her grip on reality. Her reactions you feel would be normal for any parent feeling frantic when their child goes missing.
Through all this she does still maintain some semblance of self-preservation; none more evident than when she first gets an inkling that something from beyond our realm could be involved in the mystery. Her first instinct is to run which shows that below the surface she is still quite a sensible person.
This encounter actually triggers some calmness in her as she starts to realise she isn't clinging to some crazy notion of where Will has gone. Joyce starts to settle down from this moment and her behaviour becomes more rational once someone else also believes that for all her crazy antics; she might actually be correct in her convictions.
Even at her most vulnerable moments though, Joyce is still able to show the inner strength that she has gained from being an independent parent. I love it when she stands up to Lonnie who has come waltzing back in during this crisis and tries to throw his weight around. During this confrontation you can see Joyce for the loving, caring mother she is. Lonnie is well and truly put in his place as Joyce shows just how well she knows her children and clearly points out that Lonnie doesn't have a clue about either boy.
All the way through Joyce has this belief that she will find Will alive and there are only a couple of moments where she seems to waver in this opinion. At one stage during her investigation with Hopper she realises that it could take years to uncover the truth. It is here that you first see her convictions falter a little and near the end of the series we see this happen again.
It is a credit to Winona Ryder's performance that she is able to wring all these different emotions and nuance out of her role. The arc her character goes on from the start to the finish is probably the biggest out of all the cast; with the possible exception of Eleven who I don't want to discuss too deeply as she is best left to be discovered as the show unfolds. It was only on my second viewing that I got a true sense of just how far she had come during the season.
I mentioned Jim Hopper teaming up with Joyce to investigate Will's disappearance. It is probably more accurate to say that at first Hopper is reluctant to involve Joyce and wants to conduct the search solely with his fellow officers. Circumstances soon change his opinion as he starts to believe that the wild theory Joyce has might be true.
When we first see Hopper you get the impression that he is a man about town who likes to drink and mix with the ladies. There is no sense that this is an officer who takes his job seriously; instead you immediately think that this is a small town cop who is bored with the monotony of all that being a small town cop entails.
These reservations are soon dispelled as it is quickly established that Hopper is a more than capable policeman. He is a no nonsense guy too; willing to step outside of the law if it is going to help him get to the bottom of the case.
Hopper has his own history compelling him to solve this crime as he too knows what it is like to lose a child. This plays a big part in his motivation and also plays into the overall story. There is also a sense, although not explicit, that there is possibly a bit of history between Hopper and Joyce of a romantic nature.
Both of these are issues which he hasn't fully come to terms with or is willing to address; particularly what happened to his child and how that affected his life. It makes the anguish he feels later on when he is in the morgue all the more poignant as you can tell what emotional turmoil he must be experiencing.
There are also some great moments of humour from Hopper. As mentioned his no nonsense approach creates a few giggles but my favourite has to be his reaction when he first goes to see Joyce knowing she is onto something and he walks into the house and sees all the Christmas lights. If they made a television series focussing just on Jim Hopper's case files I would definitely watch it because he is such a badass.
Central to the plot and the family who are closest to the Byers are the Wheeler family; consisting of eldest child Nancy, her brother Mike, baby Holly and their mother Karen....and some guy who plays the dad but is barely heard from. Actually Ted Wheeler is pretty amusing; he gives off the impression of one of those fathers who just wants to go to work, have a beer and come home to his wife and 2.5 children.
It is in Mike's basement where the four boys; Will, Mike, Lucas and Dustin, spend their free time playing Dungeons & Dragons and discussing Star Wars and all those other things that twelve year old boys loved to do back in 1983. They are like The Four Musketeers; inseparable; dependant on one another and completely loyal.
Mike is the main instigator in getting Lucas and Dustin to go along with him as he is determined to find out what has transpired with Will. After coming across Eleven in the woods they soon realise that she might be a key factor in helping them locate Will and accept her into the fold.
The budding relationship between Mike and 'El' is very cute to watch and thankfully handled in a manner appropriate to the age of the characters. The way both Dustin and Lucas acknowledge having a strange girl in the group is also written realistically; one thinks it's cool, the other not so much. You can see by the way each of them reacts to whom and what El is; that these boys are all comfortable with expressing their opinion to each other without cause for concern or ridicule.
One of the major strengths of the show is just how well these kids all interact with each other. The camaraderie and bond that they share is onscreen for you to see. More important than the friendships they share is that they each act like children. The logical conclusions they come to are the sort of leaps that kids would come too. One example is how Mike comes up with a way for El to introduce herself to his parents and you can see how he came up with the idea because it would be normal for a child to think this way. The other strong point is that none of these child actors are annoying; there isn't one written simply to be comic relief and neither of them makes you cringe with their behaviour.
Now getting back to the other two Wheeler's who play a role in the show let me focus for a moment on how much I enjoyed Karen. Cara Buono, who is a veteran of television, is wonderful in a small role. Normally such a character would be dismissing of her children or not as sympathetic to their needs. Karen is the complete opposite. She tries to connect with Nancy when she can tell something is bothering her; she provides solace to Mike when he needs it and overall I was so impressed with what Buono did with the part and how original this characters perspective felt.
Nancy is our connective tissue to Jonathan. She is trying to start a relationship with Steve Harrington who seems to be one of the popular kids at school and Nancy isn't in that category. There is a mutual attraction and romance soon blossoms. Opinions vary greatly when it comes to Steve and your view of him will probably change from one episode to the next as it did with me. Overall I did end up liking him greatly; he might be a bit of a douche to begin with but he did redeem himself come the series finale.
Once again the writers do something to reinvigorate what could have become a stereotype. Steve's attitude towards Nancy the day after his party is one example that takes you by surprise as you are expecting something completely different from him. His final gesture with Jonathan is another example of how this person can surprise you.
It is interesting how Nancy does seem to behave in a different manner around Steve and it is picked up on by both Jonathan and her best friend Barb. They can see that she isn't being her normal self and what person hasn't acted differently to gain the attentions of someone they like?
One relationship that is clear for all to see is the way both her and Mike have that sibling love/hate rivalry. As the older sibling she wants her space and neither is happy when Karen suggests they need to stay close together. This is amusingly brought up by their father later on when he laughs off the suggestion that Nancy is with her brother of her own volition.
The difference between her relationship with Mike and that of Jonathan and Will is shown in stark contrast when she proves she has no idea how to contact Mike but Jonathan does. In this moment you can see that she realises how much Jonathan cares for his brother and how neglectful she has been towards hers. This leads to a beautiful tender scene between Nancy and Mike later on when they both agree to tell each other the truth only to then immediately break that promise by both telling a lie. It is one of the best whimsical moments of the series.
Nancy approaches Jonathan with the evidence that brings him to the conclusion that perhaps his mum isn't as crazy as he thinks. The two team up to search for both Will and Barb who has also vanished by this stage. No one seems as concerned about Barb's whereabouts except for Nancy who doesn't believe the explanation regarding her friend's disappearance.
That attraction between Nancy and Jonathan I mentioned earlier is played upon further as the two of them start to look into events. Whereas Nancy appeared to be acting different around Steve; you get the sense that she is able to be herself around Jonathan. There was one exchange in particular that highlighted to me that these two are more in synch; when we see that Nancy has swapped her baseball bat for Jonathan's handgun. No dialogue was needed, they each realised which weapon suited them most and got on with it. In another show there would have been a funny quip to accompany this change over; but the writers trust the audience enough to pick up on what is taking place between these two teens.
It would be remiss of me to talk about all these characters without mentioning two of the most important and those are our villains. Matthew Modine plays Dr Martin Brenner the man in charge of the government agents based in the Hawkins laboratory who are on the trail of Eleven. For large portions of the show Brenner doesn't say much and there are plenty of scenes where he doesn't utter a single word. This actually makes him more menacing as you don't know what he is thinking but you can tell that his motives are sinister by nature. I don't think we have actually seen his true motivation either because he is still a bit of an enigma. Does he view himself as a father figure to Eleven as she refers to him as Papa; or does he have cruel intentions? Something I think we will discover more of during season two.
The children come up with the nickname of the Demogorgon when referring to the mysterious entity they believe is responsible for taking Will. This is a denizen from their games of Dungeons & Dragons and is the beast that causes fear in Will when we first see them playing this game. It is only natural that they think of this creature as the thing that has taken Will. In reality it is a very clever use of the name as the Demogorgon is associated with the underworld. They refer to its dwelling as The Vale of Shadows which again ties in to the Dungeons & Dragons terminology. Eventually the Upside-Down will become a part of the narrative which confirms the kids were onto something with all these theories.
Part of the inspiration behind the Demogorgon's design I feel must have been the Slender Man; especially when viewed in shadow which it often is. It also seems to rely on certain senses; I don't think it is capable of hearing judging from the movements it makes. This is all very reminiscent of the creature from Alien.
So we have established all the main players and the three groups of investigators: the children; Joyce and Hopper; and Jonathan and Nancy. Each of these groups I felt had their own defined genre when it came to the approach the filmmakers took in representing their search for Will. The three boys and El seemed to be a kid's adventure similar in nature to Stand By Me or The Goonies. Joyce and Hopper definitely had more of the Sci-Fi element to their enquiries; whereas Jonathan and Nancy instilled more of the Horror aspect of the show. These components are wound together in such a tightly written narrative that neither one feels out of place.
All three of these genres are steeped in 80's nostalgia and the show itself revels in celebrating the early parts of this decade and all of the pop culture related to the era. There are posters for Evil Dead and The Thing adorning various walls; both films the creators are clearly influenced by.
One character asks "Do you guys read any Stephen King" and this is after we have seen a guard reading Cujo. These are nice little nods to the heroes of the Duffer Brothers. Likewise the score has a very strong connection to the sounds of John Carpenter; or Goblin who appear on a lot of Dario Argento's film scores.
Steven Spielberg's ET has a huge influence; the Byers family being a broken home is a standard Spielberg trope. The G-Men are also very reminiscent of the ones from ET; both when viewed out in the open and suited up in the Hawkins laboratory. There is even a touching scene where Eleven has to go out in disguise which reminds you of ET going out for Halloween. I don't want to dwell on all of the similarities or homages that are referenced; this excellent video I found online does a pretty comprehensive job of pointing out a lot of them:
It is fair to say that the Duffer Brothers have created this show with a lot of respect and admiration to what has gone beforehand. They aren't ripping off any of these films or books but have made their own series drawing on the best methods and ideas from these past triumphs. The things they admired have added to the inspiration behind creating something that feels familiar and yet new all at the same time.
The show is not without its stereotyped characters either and they do play upon a lot of tropes that appeared in many of the media that inspired the creators. What they do with these though is use them to their advantage. It is rare that the stereotypes feel out of place; they are there for a purpose to help propel the story.
It is a fine line to play as it would have been very easy to fall into parody but the writing is so good that nothing is wasted and everything is so well thought out. One fine example is when Barb parks her car away from Steve's house when she and Nancy are attending his party. It feels odd at the time and you think it is a misstep; but later on it comes back in and helps the story avoid a plot hole.
It is this attention to detail that really makes the writing stand out. I get the feeling that the original idea the Duffer Brothers had was allowed to gestate until they had all their ducks in a row before deciding to go ahead with filming. I can only commend them for this as it certainly is the shows biggest strength.
I touched briefly on the music and I have to say that I love the score and song choices throughout the whole series. The electronic synthesizer sounds are so reminiscent of the 80's and are perfect for the setting. Add to this the actual songs that are used fit the scenes they are chosen for so well. Take Waiting for a Girl Like You for one of Barb's scenes as an example; or Peter Gabriel's haunting version of Heroes as the police search the quarry. This in particular is one of the best filmed scenes from the series overall and has such a gut-punching impact that you will be wiping the tears from your eyes.
There are a lot of movie making tricks on display. Flashbacks are used and they have a real purpose to the story; such as when Will is shown drawing pictures and discussing different abilities. The flashbacks like these do aid the narrative and aren't here just to help establish a person's history. There are great transition shots, often triggered by something that is happening to Eleven; a coke can on television moves us to the Hawkins lab and her previous experience with a can of soft drink. In the same vein she hides in a wardrobe and it morphs into a scene of her in a similar enclosed space. Once again we are seeing just how well put together the overall story has been planned and I reiterate nothing that you see on screen is wasted; it all has meaning.
As well as the fancy techniques there are some quality character moments that get to the emotional core of the person. Eleven having a real adolescent experience and seeing herself as a pretty girl for the first time is truly a lump in the throat occasion. It is also touching when Dustin is discussing his friendship with Mike and the way he reacts to what he is hearing is just lovely. Probably the one set piece that really got to me was between Joyce and El and it was simply a hug from a parent who recognises that a child needs comforting. It made me realise it was probably the only moment of genuine tenderness that Eleven has experienced so far in her life.
The show might be a mystery solving crime story about a missing boy and it might have monsters, secret government organisations and strange realms; but more than anything else it is a story with a lot of heart and one that shows the love shared between friends and family. For my way of thinking this came shining through and was one of the main reason I fell in love with this debut series.
The Case Against:
My issues are mere annoyances more than glaring problems; after all I have stated how well I thought the series was scripted so I would be really surprised to have taken umbrage with the story. One of the things that I can see wouldn't be to everyone's taste is the 80's setting. The 80's is a decade often derided for bad fashion and the height of cheesiness and it might grate on some people.
There seems to be a lot of people split down the middle in their evaluation of Joyce, in particular Winona Ryder's performance. I will admit that at first she does come off as a bit too hyper and my first impression was that I don't want to listen to her in hysterics for eight episodes. Thankfully as I have said she does calm down and gives a more balanced performance but I can see how she would have put a lot of people off from the way she acts when we first meet her.
I had more of an issue with her ex-husband Lonnie than with Joyce. I know Lonnie isn't a major character so they didn't need to develop him too much. He let me down the more screen time he received. At first I thought he was going to be the Dad who didn't really want to leave but no, he turned out to be the douchebag everyone expects him to be. It would have been great if they could have worked on that small amount of nuance that was hinted at just a little bit more.
Now I love Hopper but I am afraid out of everyone he more than all the others did things that affected my goodwill towards him. The first thing and it is only a minor thing that I hate every time I see it onscreen, is when he leaves his home and fails to switch off the television! It is one of my pet peeves and it always, without fail, makes me think the person doesn't care about their electricity bills.
One of the very few times I thought the writers made an error was when Hopper tells one of his associates his phone is out of order, only to proceed later on to call his ex-wife. It might have been to keep his partner out of his home, but that wasn't explicit. I know he is a badass but I also have a hard time believing that he could have taken out three operatives single handed without making enough noise to alert the others before he got to them. These are petty nit-picks I know.
There are larger parts of Hopper's arc that I had further issues with. Hopper losing his daughter is probably the worst of all the tropes the writers used. I didn't feel the script needed it. His backstory of being a big city cop now working in a small town was sufficient enough. They could have played on his unconcerned, devil may care attitude. He feels this way because nothing ever happens in Hawkins that compares to his time living in the city.
I know that his loss gives him the motivation to want to find Will alive because he can understand what Joyce is going through but his role as a police officer and having the chance to do something with meaning should have been all the reason he needed. This brings me to the Hopper flashbacks that occur in the final episode. While I can appreciate their inclusion because of what they are telling us; I thought they only interrupted the flow of the episode which took away from the overall impact of the finale.
Some of his choices at the end of the show are also baffling and seem out of character. Without trying to spoil things I had a hard time reconciling some of his decisions when compared to the behaviour we had previously seen him display. I can only put this down to Hopper feeling he had no other choice if he was to achieve his goal. There is an indication that this will be addressed in season two and I hope so.
Out of all our main characters the only other ones that caused some eye rolls were the triumvirate of Nancy, Jonathan and Steve. It was more so with Nancy and Jonathan and most of my problems happen in episode five. There were two key points that annoyed me and both are because we see them far too often in horror.
The first was Nancy and Jonathan separating from one another as they follow a bloody trail in search of the Demogorgon. The minute they do; you just know one of them is going to come a cropper. This action was redeemed in the following episode when Dustin asks Mike and Lucas if they remember what happened in 'The Bloodstone Pass' when they separated; which reflects their closer camaraderie and hints nicely at the bloody trail. So I forgave this faux pas on reflection.
But I could not forgive Nancy for stepping on a twig when trying to be sneaky. Of all the worst horror tropes included in this setup; this one by far made me groan at the TV screen. Admittedly it left the episode on a cool cliff-hanger but come on, don't resort to common conventions guys!
My other gripes are to do with this trio's interaction with the Demogorgon itself. There is a huge leap of logic from Nancy when she concludes that blood attracts the Demogorgon. I might have missed it, but I can't remember a moment when this became apparent to anyone. If I did miss it then I apologise and will stand corrected.
Steve freaks out the first time he sees the Demogorgon and I appreciated his reaction; it seemed natural. However he quickly regains his composure and rushes to the rescue. Now if that was me I don't think I could have recovered that quickly and come to the aid of someone who I was recently in conflict with and a girlfriend who Steve thinks might not be as into him, as he is into her. It would have been hilarious if he just kept running and left them to it!
I feel I have to mention this as it bugged me the whole series and I hope it doesn't offend anyone; but will the catering department please make sure that Natalia Dyer eats a sandwich or something next season. I seriously felt concerned for her health; there is no meat on her at all.
There are a couple of things I want to bring up about some of the minor characters. I know there is a lot of love for Barb and I really hope that they resolve more of her story in season two. It perturbed me how the only person who seemed bothered about her disappearance was Nancy. There was hardly any investigation into Barb's disappearance. In a small town people should know that she just wouldn't up and leave and this sort of behaviour is out of the ordinary for her. I would have expected there to be more of a connection made between Will and Barb from the police. Even though Hopper isn't as present at the station at this point; at the very least Powell seems capable of these logical connections; Callahan on the other hand maybe not.
I will be honest and say that I hated Callahan and it annoyed me immensely that they called him Callahan too. He is such a douche. He doesn't seem smart enough to be a cop; he is so stereotypical of the country hick officer. Most of all he is so insensitive nearly every time he speaks. Callahan offends Nancy when discussing Barb; he hits a nerve with Hopper when he talks about Joyce but worst of all is his attitude at Benny's.
It troubled me greatly what takes place with Benny; I didn't think there was any need for this course of action from the government agents at the time. What do they stand to gain; all they are doing is drawing more attention from the local constabulary. Callahan's attitude is far too flippant when he makes comments to Hopper and I liked how Hopper's response kind of put Callahan in his place. I could well imagine Callahan being the sort of person who enjoyed peeling the wings off of flies when he was a child!
Moving from one person who doesn't seem too bright to one who is; I do very much like Mr Clark. He is an awfully smart teacher and is far too well read for someone teaching middle school. His interactions with the boys is nice but it is very convenient how he always has a solution to their problems. Clark's character helps to move the story along as he is often used to provide an explanation to help answer some part of the plot the viewer might have questions about.
I have said how much I admire Cara Buono's performance as Karen Wheeler but come on; surely she must visit the basement on occasion. How can Mike get away with hiding Eleven down there without his mum needing to go get something from downstairs?
I save my last criticism for the Demogorgon and the nods to Aliens afforded it. In Aliens we see victims trapped in a nest and when we get a glimpse late on of the Demogorgon's lair we see a similar situation. I felt this came out of leftfield and was a little bit shoehorned in for my liking. There is no hint as to why the Demogorgon acts the way it does so I am hoping that this is all part of the set up for season two. Until then I will reserve judgement on this final twist in the tale.
Verdict:
If only I was twelve years old and friends with these kids. I too could then battle Demogorgon's in the Upside-Down. Instead I will have to console myself with endless re-watches of this marvellous show.
We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...
Both of the entries on trial this week have a horror element to them. While one is an old favourite that is regrettably starting to sour; the other is a recently discovered realm of fantasy that has been giving me much pleasure. I live in hope that our entrant in the Torture category can be redeemed but I have some reservations.
The Scorcher
I recently included The Uncanny Valley: Tales from a Lost Town in my Scorchers of 2016 as it was one of the books I thoroughly enjoyed last year. Well I can safely say that the follow up Darkness in the Valley is just as entertaining. It follows the same format where the story unfolds from the diary entries of different residents of the valley. Where it does differ is that this covers one event; whereas Uncanny Valley was made up of anecdotes of different goings on in this strange town.
The circumstances all take place over a few months in 1909 as a mining corporation want to take over the town to get to the rich minerals they believe are present in the area. Dark forces are at work and the residents slowly come to realise they must take action or risk losing everything they care for; including potentially their lives.
Some of the characters return from Uncanny Valley while others are newly introduced. While there are a lot of people to keep track of as the narration flips from one to another; you still get a decent amount of character development in the majority of cases. So when things take a turn for the worse for some you still care what is happening to them.
This material and setting would be ripe for a television or film adaptation. I could see someone like David Lynch taking this to some dark places or alternatively Tim Burton revelling in the fantasy and horror components of it all.
Gregory Miller does an excellent job once again of blending the fantastical element with reality. Things do get seriously creepy at times and you do get a good sense of dread and suspense as the tale unfolds. He has set this out as a three part act and while the middle section does feel a little too overlong; the final act pays off handsomely as it rushes to the inevitable conclusion.
I will look forward hopefully to a third visit to this strange and wonderful location.
The Torture
Speaking of entries in my 2016 Scorcher or Torture list; here is one who made it into the latter category. I have been a big fan of The Walking Dead since the very first season aired but just lately have found my devotion waning greatly.
It isn't because they have deviated so far from the comics that it all feels alien, if anything they do follow the comics rather faithfully in general. I think part of the problem is the character development as the main cast seem to have stagnated or are just becoming too repetitive by nature. However those are different issues to why episode 10 of season 7: New Best Friends has been sent to the torture chamber this week.
One thing that TWD has done is try to ground itself in a realistic setting; as much as you can when the world has been overcome by a zombie apocalypse. By sticking with the same storylines as the comics though this is where the show is starting to fail. Some of the elements that work well in comic format are not transferring over as well to the television screen.
Don't get me wrong I love Ezekiel in both formats but The Kingdom seems too caught up in the realm of fantasy for the realism they are striving for. The Saviors likewise also come across as too one note; surely there has to be some members amongst them with a shred of compassion or human decency. Instead they are all painted as comic book villains so that when we do finally get to see them get their comeuppance we won't feel sorrow for any of them.
Those are just two of my objections. My main complaint was with the Dumpster Dwellers as I shall nickname them until we get an official moniker. What the hell is going on with this group? So let me get this straight; the apocalypse happened a little over two years ago in TWD's timeline. During those couple of years the speech patterns of the Dwellers has regressed to some form of broken English? I can understand the group using coded terms and sign language amongst themselves but when Jadis the leader is conversing with Rick she still keeps up the same cadence and patter. I questioned whether she was completely sane.
Every one of the Dumpster mob must have looted the same group of shops that only cater to Goth's because every single one of them was wearing black or grey or some other sombre tone. Colour does not appear to be an option if you want to join this gang. The only place you are allowed some colouring though is in your hair; especially if you are the leader of this motley crew. Jadis hasn't got time to hunt for supplies; she is too busy getting her ends done at the local salon!
At first I was thinking the Dumpster Dwellers have been based on some Mad Max style apocalyptic band of warriors; they definitely gave off that sort of vibe. Or my second thought was that maybe they are a type of death cult. However I re-evaluated that opinion once Jadis threw Rick into the fighting pit against what I can only describe as a Resident Evil style of monster; the comically named Winslow.
Firstly this group do not look like they could be bothered to capture a zombie, let alone then festoon said zombie's body with all manner of spiky implements. And secondly he doesn't resemble a zombie; he looks more demonic and less like a former human. Winslow's makeup is good for a horror creature but he fails as a decomposing body that has been abused by his captors. His ribs don't look like they belonged to a person, he has claws and sharper than normal teeth; overall he appears otherworldly and that is a problem for the universe they have built here. Resident Evil must have been an inspiration for this whole segment. Not only would Winslow feel at home in that environment but Jadis herself looks like she could fill in for Milla Jovovich as Alice.
To top off the surreal experience of seeing this Mad Max/Resident Evil hybrid; we then see yet more bizarre attitude from Rosita who has fast moved to the top of my list of characters I would like to get eaten or beaten next. I want someone to slap some sense into her so badly and scream at her to stop acting like a spoilt teenager. Barring that then let Negan swing away.
The one saving grace for the episode was Father Gabriel. I mentioned the characters seem to have come to a standstill in their overall development; well the opposite is true of Gabriel. He out of everyone has gone on a massive arc of redemption since his introduction. I only wish that the writers would take as much care with the remainder of the group, then my investment in the show might be restored.
We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...
Welcome to the start of 2017's Witch Hunts. This last week I took great pleasure in raiding along the English coastline; but then ruined it by visiting a small pocket of London. Read on to find out more.
The Scorcher
The second half of season 4 of Vikings recently concluded so I went on a typical binge watch so I would be able to pass judgement on this bunch of heathens. It might not be the most historically accurate of shows but my word is it entertaining.
When I first decided to start watching Vikings I was hesitant because I was unsure how they would keep such a story interesting. The characters are based on Viking legends; made up of ones that we know existed and ones where we are not so convinced about their overall legitimacy. So the basis is there for a good story.
However these legendary warriors all existed at different times throughout Viking lore so how do they accomplish a historical telling of these tales and still manage to educate about their historical significance? Well the History Channel has taken the novel approach of condensing the actions of these Norse heroes into a much smaller timescale so that they can all interact with one another. You still get a sense of the impact each had in their culture and the wider world at large.
It works surprisingly well. The historical events are depicted with the filmmakers taking similar liberties with accuracy that you see in many "based on a true story" movies that are released.
Where the show does excel in keeping up interest levels; is in the ability to not follow normal conventions. You can be watching a scene and think you know exactly what is going to take place and the complete opposite can happen. This is totally refreshing and in many cases mimics the actual events from the Norse saga of the time. Season 4, more than all that have come before it, certainly takes these curveballs to the next level of surprise.
I will be very keen to see how season 5 develops from here and whether it can maintain the momentum.
The Torture
Have you ever felt like slashing your wrists after watching a particularly depressing film? If you answered no then this one might put you in that frame of mind. Okay so it isn't all doom and gloom but it's a pretty bloody dismal movie. 100 Streets focusses on three different stories with no connective tissue joining them up; or what little there is, is very tenuous at best. The title refers to the characters of the storylines all living within one hundred streets of each other so there you go.
This feels like three stories that weren't fully developed being cobbled together to form one film. The only one with any substance that I really wanted to see more of involved George the taxi driver as his had the makings of something intriguing. His tale however was the one we saw the least of.
Idris Elba and Gemma Arterton are recognisable names so it is only fitting that they get the most screen time. Their story is one of the most relatable too as it involves a marriage breakup. It doesn't really go anywhere though and by the end you don't really know if either of them is any better off than when we were first introduced to them.
Franz Drameh's Kingsley is one of the most commonly used redemption stories; where a young black man is on the wrong side of the tracks and realises the error of his ways. You can tell instantly when Ken Stott's Terrence starts interacting with Kingsley that it won't be all sunshine and rainbows. It holds no surprises in the least to see how this one ends up.
I was ready to torch the whole lot of them when it ended on a typical Hollywood style high note after watching an hour and a half of complete drabness beforehand. This is not a film to watch for the suicidal!
We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...
It feels like I keep bringing up Western's in this section, both good and bad!
I was tempted to include the Absolutely Fabulous movie but realised it would have been for purely sentimental reasons. It really isn't that great a film but it did bring back a lot of nostalgia for a much loved British comedy. Instead we do have something darkly humorous tickling my fancy this week.
The Scorcher
Finding the right balance in a horror comedy is not an easy task. Too much comedy and it can become parody. Too much horror and the comedy can feel like it has been shoehorned in. Having just watched season one of Scream Queens I can confidently say that Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan have found the right combination.
This show has some great comic moments spread through every episode. The horror doesn't go for gore but instead shoots for the Scream film franchise level of surprise horror. In fact I would bet that particular film franchise heavily influenced the tone of this series.
The Red Devil killer definitely shares some of the same traits as the Ghostface killer from Scream as they are both equally inept when it comes to attacking their victim. I would also suggest that the costume of the Red Devil killer took a little inspiration from Ghostface too; both using a mask to conceal the identity of the murderer.
Emma Roberts is particularly nasty in her role as the leader of the Chanel's. This is an obvious tribute to Heathers; naming the four sorority girls of Kappa Kappa Tau all Chanel. The overall tone of the show shares so much in common with Heathers actually, in a good way. In Roberts they couldn't have picked a better leading lady; she seems so genuine when dishing out her brutal lines.
Snagging Jamie Lee Curtis who is truly one of the original iconic Scream Queens is a real coup. She is terrific as the bitchy dean of the campus. She shows her comic chops, as well as returning to her horror roots, although this time around she isn't the type of girl to run away in high heels!
If there is one character that I could pick out who has the best lines it would have to be the completely naïve, sexually perverted: Chad Radwell. Nearly everything that comes out of his mouth is comedy gold and Glen Powell nails his performance. Equally amusing and just as welcome every time she appears is Niecy Nash as Denise Hemphill; the security guard out to protect the members of Kappa Kappa Tau.
I will say that this isn't a show that you should binge watch. To get the most benefit I feel it is a show where you need to view one, possibly two episodes at a time; otherwise it loses some of its appeal. The humour is great but in smaller doses and watching them one after another kind of dulls your senses and some of the smarter, quick witted jokes will pass you by.
The story itself keeps you guessing as to who the murderer is. This is one busy killer; barely an episode goes by without someone being done away with; and in some rather inventive ways. I have a confession to make: I was unable to solve the mystery of who was the main culprit. Yes I failed as an Inquisitor in this instance and I have dutifully been punishing myself with self-flagellation since!
The Torture
Well a second entry in the Torture category for a Matthew McConaughey film! I like Mr McConaughey but I am afraid that Free State of Jones did not live up to my expectations. Being a fan of the Western I was looking forward to this with eager anticipation. I especially love films about the American Civil War and the premise of this intrigued me.
This film ended up being just so flat and underwhelming; I was left feeling really disappointed with the final outcome. It is such a shame because I am sure that the source material is worthy of a movie adaptation but this does not do justice to the story. A quick look at the history of Newton Knight shows that there are at least four books on the subject, so how they didn't manage to come up with a more cohesive script is somewhat of a surprise.
There may be a lot of conjecture across these books but with a bit of research they should have been able to decide on the story that they wanted to tell. Instead what we get is a film that goes too big on scope; whereas it would have been better served by narrowing the focus to possibly just the war years. I think they lost the core of the story which should have been about Jones County and instead made it more of a biography of Newton Knight.
The film is interspersed with historical photos from the Civil War detailing what events were occurring to help move the narrative along; this is used in place of a narrator. While this is a different way of showing the passage of time it does give the film a television movie of the week feel. There is generally no lead up to any of these time jumps either, they just seem to be thrown in at random when the director feels it is time to move to the next stage in Knight's life he wants us to see.
To confuse matters there is the completely unnecessary inclusion of a court case involving one of Knight's descendants Davis Knight. He is fighting for his marriage to be recognised as he is considered to be of African-American descent and at the time interracial marriage is still not recognised in the state of Mississippi. The scenes of this trial are also strewn in at irregular intervals throughout.
They have no effect on the main plot and only serve as a distraction to the story you want to see unfold. If I was editing this, these scenes would have ended up on the cutting room floor. It is merely an interesting footnote and could have been included as such in the end credits if they felt it necessary to bring the audience's attention to this matter.
As you can see there are a few gripes in regards to how disjointed the whole thing feels. On top of that we have the length of time the director wants to cover. It starts in 1862 and finishes, if you include Davis' story, in 1947! Of course it doesn't include all events during this period and I am exaggerating but it does show that they try to incorporate too many parts of the Knight family story.
The concentration should have stayed on the fourteen skirmishes Knight and his followers had with the Confederate forces in Jones County. Instead we have Knight establishing a farm after the war has finished; Knight's fight alongside his African-American friends to establish their right to vote; Knight's estranged wife returning to his farm; Knight rescuing Moses' son from a new form of slavery after abolition and finally Knight and the freedmen practicing their right to vote. It is just too much to fit in and makes the film just drag on and on, testing ones endurance.
Disappointed is the word that best sums up my feelings towards this, I hope that one day this interesting story gets a much better telling than what was on offer here.
The Witch Trial: "Into every generation there is a chosen one. One girl in all the world. She alone will wield the strength and skill to stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer."
Well surely we can't leave one girl to fight on her own; we must ride to her aid and offer our assistance... Who:
Director: Joss Whedon, Bruce Seth Green and others
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, David Boreanaz, Anthony Stewart Head, Charisma Carpenter What:
Horror/Drama Why:
Season 2 When:
Released 1997/98 Where:
Set in Sunnydale...on the Hellmouth!
The Case For:
Next year will see the 20th anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer first airing on television. Who would have thought a show about a teenage girl battling all sorts of things that go bump in the night would have such a massive impact. It is a show that not only had a wide group of loyal followers but also showed the way to make a successful television show that many others have tried to copy. While some have reached the same heights; there are far more examples of others who have failed to capture the same lightning in a bottle.
I was a bit late in coming to the party as I started watching partway through season two. I admit that the premise had turned me off originally; a girl in high school fighting vampires didn't really inspire me. Considering season two was my first experience of the Buffyverse I felt it my duty to put this particular season of the demon hunter in the dock and see how well she and the Scooby gang pass cross examination.
My first experience of actually giving the show a go came when I watched Inca Mummy Girl. Without the knowledge of what had occurred in the earlier episodes I didn't get the reference that Xander was attracted to yet another bad choice for a potential girlfriend; but I would rectify that in the future. From viewing that first episode I was hooked and didn't miss a show after it; whilst also going back and watching season one when I managed to get my hands on it.
My first impressions were that Buffy was a badass kicking vampire and demon butt and helping people and her friends out of dangerous situations. Those friends were privy to her true nature and rallied around her helping out where they could. They had to do research about who they were coming up against and find a way to eliminate the threat rather than just resorting to brute force, although in a lot of cases that still worked.
This wasn't just some teenager tripe only there for mild entertainment. Buffy dealt with issues that kids growing up all over the world come across every day. I don't mean zombies attacking your home; but dealing with emotions, handling relationships, making and losing friendships, coping with the loss of loved ones and many, many others.
After a few episodes I started to take note of these things and realized that I was really invested in these characters and could relate to them on so many levels. There were many traits in more than one person that I could see were a reflection of my own persona. I may not have been in school at the time but those memories of what they were going through were still fresh in my mind. Who hasn't experienced rejection or come across a bully in school? The situations and the way they handled them in most cases felt real.
It is the reality of the show that resonates most with audiences. You can empathize with the characters because their experiences in everyday life are normal occurrences. The fantastical element of the show only helps to enhance or place more emphasis on those experiences.
Take Angel for instance. He appears to be the perfect boyfriend but turns out to be a monster. They literally turn Buffy's ex-boyfriend into a monster and I bet there are plenty of girls who have felt that way about their ex. The pain Buffy goes through during this breakup is heartbreaking to witness. It is helped by the reactions of her friends too. Willow is the shoulder to cry on; Xander is the one saying I told you he was no good. Again these reactions are ones you would see in the real world and therefore have more impact for the viewer.
You only get this invested in characters when they are developed to a high degree and because the writing of Whedon and his team is so good; each and every one of the main cast have their personality presented to us as fully fleshed out people. The decisions they make have consequences and as the show progresses we get to view how their choices affect not only themselves but the people around them.
Having good heroes is one thing, but they would be nothing without developing some terrific villains and in season two we get two of the best the show has to offer in Spike and Drusilla. One thing they do very well at the start of the season is have you think that the Anointed One, who is carried over from season one, is going to be the main antagonist. However he proves to be just a MacGuffin once Spike and Dru appear on the scene.
Straight from the off you know Spike is going to be a vampire different in appearance and mannerisms to The Master; her previous main foe. You know he means business as soon as he is introduced and he does not disappoint when it comes to terrorizing Buffy and her friends.
His beau Drusilla is another thing entirely. At first she appears to be totally unhinged and extremely weak. You get the impression that she is going to be Spike's Achilles heel. As the story unfolds though she comes into her own and is equally, if not more of a scary proposition for our protagonists. Juliet Landau plays her perfectly, giving her childlike qualities when she appears at her most vulnerable and then transforming into a she-devil to truly be feared once she regains her strength. Likewise James Marsters plays off her so well and the two of them together are a formidable duo.
Of course their nastiness pales into the background once Angelus makes an appearance. It says a lot for the writing and acting again; what David Boreanaz is able to achieve in just nineteen episode appearances. For much of season one he is little more than a supporting character right up until the episode Angel and he only appears twice more in that season. He becomes a regular cast member for season two and so it is really only fourteen episodes in which we establish he is a vampire with a soul who falls in love before losing said soul and reverting to his evil alter-ego: Angelus.
The trials and tribulations that Buffy and Angel go through before the series climax really helps to build the tension and boost the emotional gut punch that occurs once Buffy is faced with the ultimate decision in the season finale. There is real beauty and sadness on display and again I can only applaud the actors and the script they were working from.
They truly nail the relationships between the characters and their love interests and this is not only true of our two leads but the wider cast too. We get the most unromantic, incompatible of couples in Xander and Cordelia and while it is presented in an amusing way; it also resonates as not out of the realms of possibility as these two opposites attract.
The sweetest coupling by far is that between Willow and Oz. For Willow the whole romantic relationship is a brand new experience and she fumbles her way through it with all the excitement and nervousness that comes with starting to date someone. Oz proves to be a perfect gentleman and the way he nurtures Willow through her awkwardness would have plenty of ladies swooning wanting to take her place. His self effacing nature goes a long way to putting Willow at ease as she comes to realize that what truly matters is only what concerns herself and Oz and not how others view them.
Not only are the teenage relationships presented well but also those of the adult variety. Spike and Dru might have a rather tempestuous relationship but it is one built on an (undead) lifetime together; both knowing what buttons to push to get the reaction they are looking for. You can see the understanding of each other they have developed which only comes from a long term relationship.
Giles' feelings towards Jenny Calendar; and the way she is onto him from the beginning; and the way she playfully toys with his romantic bumbling is handled in a lovely manner. She reciprocates those same feelings but doesn't play easy to get. This only adds to the affection you feel towards them as the viewer, once they do finally get together. It also adds greatly to the emotional impact when tragedy befalls them later on.
There is a respect shown to all the age groups of the characters by the writers and it is no wonder that the scripts are one of the shows main strengths. It also comes as no surprise that most of the writers for Buffy have gone on to other shows with some acclaim.
One of the things that I do notice now more than ever is how much foreshadowing and set up the writers incorporate as the season progresses. There are some things that come to fruition in a couple of episodes but then there are others which won't truly see the light of day until future seasons.
For example the word passion is used a couple of times in the earlier episodes and it just seems like a throwaway line when it crops up; that is until we get to the episode Passion and then it takes on an entirely new sinister meaning. I have to say it is one of my most favorite episodes from the show as a whole; the narration that opens and closes the episode and the way the cameraman shoots Angelus at the end fit perfectly together.
I didn't realize that it was this early on that Willow would start to show an interest and aptitude for magic. This is something that will grow and become more prevalent as season's progress culminating in one of the most powerful foes the show produced in season six. Whether this was planned from the beginning who knows, but they definitely started laying the groundwork here. We also see Giles question Willow on a couple of occasions and warn her of the dangers about dabbling with the mystical arts; as we come to learn about Giles own history with abusing magical forces.
When we start to get a bit of back-story for Giles in Halloween we also are introduced to another great villain in Ethan Rayne. He proves to be a terrific little nemesis; or a more accurate description would be an annoying stone in the shoe of Buffy and the Scooby gang. His appearances in later seasons were always much welcomed by myself.
Ethan isn't the only minor character whose part in the Buffyverse is established here. Other people who would go on to become more involved as the story continues such as Jonathan Levinson, Harmony Kendall and Amy Madison would start to make more appearances. It is those repeat appearances which help strengthen the show and helped coin the term Buffyverse. This is a show intent on world building and having characters constantly interacting with each other; in much the same way as people do in superhero comics.
There are a couple of bottle episodes that really stand out as favorites of mine. Xander Harris gets to be the main focus of Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered and it is one of the funniest from the whole canon. Killed By Death has a creepier tone to it and one of the scariest demons in Der Kindestod. I can't help but wonder if the makers of The Babadook took inspiration from this design as there are some similarities between the two.
Overall I consider season two to be the strongest, most consistently entertaining of all seven seasons. I might have a bit of nostalgia related to that opinion with it being my first; but I don't think I would be alone in that assessment. It is the season that saw me fall in love with this universe; whose inhabitants would go on to provide me with hours of emotional roller coasters of entertainment.
The Case Against:
After all that praise I guess you are wondering if there is anything that I do not like about the second series. While there is very little that I have against it; there are still some moments that particularly irk me.
I loved the idea that Buffy would be dealing with some post traumatic stress disorder after her ordeal with The Master; but it was dealt with during the first episode. They could have drawn this out a bit more to cover a couple of episodes and delved deeper into what it means to have come so close to dying - permanently, I realize Buffy was technically dead for a short period of time.
The episode I hate the most appears during this season and taking that mantle is: Ted. I don't know what it is about this in particular, but I don't find anything about this story enjoyable. I am not a fan at all of John Ritter so that might have something to do with it. His appearance feels like a "special guest starring" role which annoys me in any show where they use gimmick casting to try and draw in a particular audience or demographic.
While I have said how much I enjoy the main villains in Angelus, Spike, Drusilla and a couple of the lesser ones like Ethan Rayne and Der Kindestod; there are some duds present too and not just the aforementioned Ted. Top of that list are the assassins sent from the Order of Taraka. If these are supposed to be members of an order of the most deadly assassins ever, then there must have been a shortage of skilled applicants when they inducted these three.
Each one is dealt with very easily; the first one in particular. Patrice, the assassin who has disguised herself as a police woman, acts like the T1000; she even does the role-call in a deadpan voice "Buffy Summers" then KAPOW she starts blazing away! She has no regard for stealth or a facial disguise so she can continue operating once the contract has been fulfilled on Buffy. I am sure she would have had her face plastered everywhere and headlines reading: "Woman impersonates officer, goes on shooting rampage in school".
For what is essentially the midway point of the season and a double episode to boot; I just felt that these antagonists were a bit weak. Even Norman Pfister, the Bug Man, whilst having a cool ability is just squished to death. Overall they are poorly presented assailants if ever there were some.
I do get a bit confused as to the conflicting logic of Spike. He appears to go along with the idea to use The Judge to destroy humanity in Surprise and Innocence; which would affect his "happy meals on legs" philosophy. Later on however he turns against Angelus when he wants to use Acathla for the similar purpose of ending the world as we know it.
Is it because he has regained his strength so feels like he can now go against Angelus and Drusilla which in turn would allow him to escape to continue his existence with Dru? Whereas previously he wasn't at his full power when they had The Judge. If so then that does make sense; but it still seems like he is doing a bit of a back flip later on with the Acathla plan.
The romance between Buffy and Angel can be a little melodramatic at times. I get the impression this is on purpose to try and portray the emotional turmoil both are feeling; Angel because of his age and vampirism; and Buffy because she is just starting to mature. It isn't a major gripe but can feel a little overdone shall we say at times.
I am going to say it: I think Joyce Summers is a bitch who rides her daughter way too much. That felt good!
Buffy has been taken from her home town and has made some nice new friends who don't seem to have any major social or violent behavior issues. She is shown to be studying and seeking help when she needs it. Her principal obviously has it in for her as Snyder is always trying to catch her out and label her, unjustly in most cases, as a troublemaker. Giles has spoken highly to Joyce about Buffy which you would think should carry some weight and help her cause.
So why does Joyce always give her such a hard time? Out of all the characters in the show I don't think they ever got Joyce right. I understand Buffy had issues at her old school and Joyce thought that the change of scenery would improve matters. From what we are presented with that seems to be the case. Joyce rarely sees the dangers Buffy faces from her encounters or sees her acting out in a violent manner; so I just don't get her logic for being so unreasonable with her daughter.
The other main character who I take umbrage with is Xander Harris. Some of his actions and decisions make him appear to be one of the most selfish people in the show. His constant pining for Buffy's affections is so irritating and at times makes him out to be a little bit of a stalker. There are times during this season where I wonder why Buffy and Willow remain friends with him. I still like him but if I was Buffy I would have to restrain myself from hitting him on occasion.
Some of his actions I do feel come from his own insecurity and sense of feeling inferior to these powerful women in his life. That is all well and good but he can act like a total douche bag from time to time!
As you would expect with a show set in a high school location you do get the usual stereotypes appearing. From the recurring cast there is the nerdy Jonathan who is a prime example. Harmony as a vacuous bimbo is another one. A number of the episodes feature others, such as the jocks from Go Fish and the beefed up (undead) quarterback in Some Assembly Required. It is an understandable trait and makes the characters relatable; but is that only because we see these tropes so often, is it a true reflection of what school life is like? They are easy characters to knock out during the writing process and I do think sometimes it can be a bit lazy on the writer's behalf.
I would like to finish off with a slight moan about another bit of poor scripting. At the start of Becoming Part 2 Buffy flees from the police after striking the officer holding her. As she runs away - unarmed and with her back to the officers, one of them tells her to freeze before OPENING FIRE ON HER!
Now I know American law enforcement have a bit of a reputation for shoot first ask questions later; but it feels far too excessive to shoot at an unarmed teenage girl just because she is fleeing the scene of a crime! I would have loved to see Joyce Summers in court the following season seeking damages for the traumatic experience the police put her poor daughter through.
I might seem like I am wailing on about the writers as I close out here, but trust me I am not. I mentioned in 'The Case For' how much I admire the tautness of the script writing for Buffy. Overall the writing team does a superb job for a twenty two episode season. However when there are parts that don't quite gel, and there are bound to be one or two dud moments, I do feel I have to point them out for 'The Case Against'.
Verdict:
Buffy has to be set free to continue her one girl in all the world prophecy against the denizens of evil. It would be a dereliction of duty to imprison a fellow Witch Hunter.
